BARCELONA, Spain--Ubuntu is coming to your phone and tablet, and in style.I'd say on first impression it knocks rivals like Firefox OS and Samsung-backed Tizen into a cocked hat.
Ubuntu Touch is developed by Canonical and set to be available to the public in October. Manufacturers are yet to be confirmed, but you can try the software right now on selected Google Nexus devices.
The phone and tablet versions are identical in design and operation, except the tablet version has wider screens. Here's how the new OS works.
At the top of the screen at all times is a thin black bar that shows the usual status indicators: battery, time, and phone signal. But it also has a search button, so you can always instantly search no matter what you're doing or which app you're in, on phone and tablet. Very handy.
Instead of shortcuts to open apps, the home screens show you your "stuff": messages, music, videos, and so on. The main home screen has a selection of the highlights, such as favorite videos. I like the widget for recent messages, as it displays messages in a Cover Flow-style sideways-scrolling carousel showing pictures of your friends -- a much friendlier and more human way to see who you're communicating with than a list of text.
